Tree Management...

Rob Dorsch, CGCS, Richter Park Golf Course, Danbury, CT:

"Richter has tree lined fairways that play a very important part in the aesthetic qualities of the golf course. Unfortunately trees and grass do not always get along. Trees compete for nutrients, water and most importantly hog the sunlight. Last season we started looking at morning shade patterns to come up with a tree removal / thinning program that will help our problem areas.

Over the next several weeks and months you might see ribbons around some select trees throughout the course. These ribbons are only going to be for internal record keeping and will allow the Greens Committee and authority to access our program and recommendations that will be presented during next years budget process.

It is easiest to determine what trees are causing the problems during the season when the leaves are on the trees causing the problems. We are trying to locate old photographs to restore the course to more of an original state of when the course opened. On the turf crew we are looking ahead to minimize and correct future problems that are in our control.

It must be stated that we are not going into this plan with the goal of cutting down trees. We are using GPS and other programs to selectively target the trees causing the problems. Trees are extremely important to a golf course and we plan on highlighting the important trees while eliminating the problem ones."

Visit Rob's blog at richterparkturf.blogspot.com.

Junior tees

Pat Quinlan, Madison Golf Club, Madison, NJ:

"The Junior Tee markers have been placed on the golf course. Please come out and enjoy the golf course with your children and let them experience the game. These markers are black in color and scorecards are available in the pro shop."

Visit Pat's blog at mgcgreens.blogspot.com

Bunkers look'n good...

Joel Kachmarek, Tacoma Country and Golf Club, Lakewood, WA:

"The first load of sod came in this past Tuesday and I think that afternoon we almost hit 80 degrees. Not ideal conditions for laying sod. Not only did the heat put a lot of fatigue on the guys, it also put a lot of stress on the sod and I really thought I was going to lose some of it. The crew knew this stuff had to get off the pallets and many of them put in 12 hours that day to get the job done. I honestly have the best crew ever. They did get the job done, we got the water on it, and I'm happy to say we didn't lose any sod.

"Once the sod on the floor is established and rooted in, it will be sprayed out and the bunker sand will be installed..."

The first thing finished was sodding of the bunker floor. Once the sod on the floor is established and rooted in, it will be sprayed out and the bunker sand will be installed. The sod decomposes under the sand and becomes an impermeable layer which protects the bunker sand from being contaminated by rocks or native soil within the bunker floor. There are many fabrics or other materials being used in the industry to line the floors of bunkers. Simply put, at 28 cents/sq ft. (delivered), nothing comes close to the affordability of sod.

Above left is the same bunker today. You can see we have cut the sod off the drain lines so there will be rapid infiltration over the drain pipe.

Above right is the bunker to the right of #6 green. It really turned out beautiful. Although the grass on the floor looks similar to the grass on the bunker lip, it isn't the same at all. The grass on the floor is straight perennial ryegrass. The grass on the robust lips is fine fescue and it will be kept at a higher mowing height than the surrounding turf which will add a dynamic, classical, rugged look.

Below is a close up of the robust bunker lip which architect John Harbottle III refers to as a "bull-nose" style. I simply love this look and I'll give props again to John and the guys from Ridgetop Inc. for their excellent craftsmanship.

Next Tuesday the remainder of the sod will be laid and then its just waiting till there is good enough rooting to kill the stuff and put the sand in. I'm guessing that they will be done for U.S. Open Field Day on June 9th. These bunkers are going to be so cool."

Visit Joel's blog at tacomaturf.com.

Drainage drilling...

Justin Ruiz, CGCS MG, Indian Summer Golf & CC, Olympia, WA:

"We are trying to do some drainage work over the summer months to help out during the winter months. I was able to borrow a tractor mounted auger that we are using to dig drainage holes in the low lying areas on the golf course. We are going to fill some of the holes with straight sand while the other more noticeabley wet areas we will install a drainage box and fill these holes with pea gravel. We are hoping to at least help the water get beneath the compacted upper portion of the soil profile and into the well drained soil underneath.

This process is a preliminary, less invasive procedure. If these areas are not satisfactory in the wetter months of the year we will proceed with full scale drainage tile installation that will connect to existing internal drainage areas."

Visit Justin's blog at indiansummergolf.blogspot.com.

Murphy's Law...

Craig DeJong, Hendersonville (NC) Country Club:

"Our staff members enjoy the fact that we try to wrap up our week on Friday by noon. With the current renovation a few of our key employees stay at the course as long as needed.

Late Friday afternoon, just as we were wrapping up our day, the contractor calls to inform us that they had hit an irrigation line. Excellent! I was looking for a reason to stay late. Fortunately, we repaired the leak in about an hour. Not really a big deal, just a part of the process."

Visit Craig's blog at http://hccgcgd.blogspot.com

Seedhead setback...

Cody Beckley, Nutters Crossing Golf Club, Salisbury, MD:

"As we neared the end of April, everything around the golf course was starting to come together to create great playing surfaces on just about every part of the course. The greens were rolling nicely, the bermuda fairways have filled in and greened up, the tees are more dense and uniform than in years past, and the rough...well it's still the rough. We've still got work to do there. So as all is going good, imagine my utter disbelief and frustration as our Poa annua greens began to seed for the second time this year.

White, fat seedheads...The stuff of nightmares.

Oddly enough this is from the same green. This biotype of poa hasn't seeded again.

I'm still trying to learn the 'why' behind what happened to cause this. Typically you can expect one good flush of seeds in the early spring. In an effort to lessen the amount and size of the seeds produced, we use growth regulating products designed to suppress seedhead production. As far as I understand, these products are designed to be used only once per year. Regarding our situation - I haven't been able to get any recommendations on using these suppressants again heading into summer.

"I believe this second flush of seeds is a product of the weather..."

I believe this second flush of seeds is a product of the weather. In early March we had temperatures well above average, which caused an early flush of seeds from the poa. Temperatures in April were then typical of temperatures in March: cooler and very dry. Now in May our temperatures are around what we might see in April. I really think the turf is a bit confused as it has seen two periods of weather that typically serve as the signal to start producing seeds. There could be many other factors here, but I think the weather is having the most impact.

Poa annua seedheads are the bane of a smooth putting surface. Not much else does more to ruin the speed and consistency of the green surface. The actual process of producing seeds is also detrimental to root development of the turf. The turf diverts vital resources to produce seeds instead of roots. Unfortunately we will have to deal with these seedheads for another couple weeks. "

Visit Cody's blog at nutterscrossing.blogspot.com.

Bunker Etiquette Reminders...

Nelson Caron, Ford Plantation, Richmond Hill, GA:

"Following are a few quick and simple bunker etiquette tips can help maintain the playability and aesthetic look of our bunkers:

• When entering and exiting a bunker do so from the "low point" and NOT along a steep face where you can slide down, displace the sand and leave large indentations in the face of the bunker. If you feel like you have to climb in or out of the bunker, you are not entering/exiting from the correct spot.

• Use the rakes inside the bunkers to smooth your footprints, where you have "dug in" for the shot and rake where your club blasted the ball from the bunker.

• After raking the disturbed area in the bunker, please place the rake back into the bunker parallel to the bunker edge.

• If the sand is damp or wet, please knock/tap the sand from your golf shoes before walking on the green where it can interfere with another golfer's putting line.

Following these few simple tips can help maintain a consistent and fair playing surface for all golfers. Thank you for your help!"

Visit Nelson's blog at tfpagronomy.blogspot.com.